Five Easy-to-Access Change Management Resources

Organizational change is like wiring the house with the power still on. You need to get light into every room, but you don’t want anyone to get zapped in the process.

It’s easy to underestimate the level of disruption that occurs when we launch a new strategy, are asked to lead a new team, or when we ask our current teams to do things differently.

Even when a change is positive, initially most people can only think, what will happen to me? Will I still have a job? What if I can’t take care of my family?

In addition to all the disruption, fear, and uncertainty, leaders often make three classic mistakes by:

Underestimating the power of the existing culture. Even with the best of good intentions, employees are used to doing their work in a certain way. And, until they understand and have time to process the need for change, they will just keep doing what they’ve always done.

Moving too fast to implement changes while communicating too little or too late. The result? Some employees shut down and let fear take over, others stand around and kvetch at the copy machine, and the rest keep charging ahead doing what they have always done—or worse, trying out new things that may not be beneficial. A lack of clarity around new roles and responsibilities is one of the biggest reasons change initiatives fail.

Forgetting the importance of connecting on all three levels of communication: